Race To The Top: Leaving Teachers Behind?

[tonysam]

SPARKS –– For veteran teacher Benjamin Tucker, there’s far more to education than test scores. The math department chairman, girls and boys basketball coach and assistant wrestling coach was called one of the top educators at Sparks Middle School by principal Andrew Yoxsimer on Tuesday.

“He’s a great teacher, an awesome teacher,” Yoxsimer said.

A teachers’ union negotiator for the Washoe Education Association (WEA), Tucker expressed concerns that “Race to the Top” federal education funding requirements could drive good teachers away from the schools that need them the most.

“What troubles me is that they want to tie teacher performance to student achievement (based) on one test taken on one day,” Tucker said, referring to the CRT, or Criterion Referenced Test. Tucker worries this requirement could keep inexperienced teachers from challenging themselves at higher-risk, lower-income schools.


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I used to work with this teacher, and he is good. And his concerns are absolutely on target, but that's the point of "Race to the Top." It's another way to force teachers out, whether they "voluntarily" leave or they are shitcanned for bogus reasons.

The district has a new superintendent who is an Eli Broad "Academy" flunky, so things are bound to get even WORSE in that district.

[erinlough]

1. He sounds like he has it

Did you know all of the states who want to compete for the Race to the Top funds have to pass a series of laws in the state legislatures by the end of December? Do you also know they are passing them through in most states as we speak? In Michigan the Senate already passed evaluation of teachers based on test scores of one testing each year, more charter schools, fast track approach to teaching degrees for new prospective teachers from the military and business, new guidelines for principal certification, making it easier to fire tenured teachers, etc. The bills now have to pass through the House, which is expected in the next two weeks. I, as Education Association President, was sent a MOU or memorandum of understanding, to sign away the rights of all of the teachers I represent with the warning that my failure to sign this will result in my school being unable to share in the money should we win the grant! Of course I will not sign it..... yet.

I voted for Obama, I would like to support him, however this RTTT money is extortion to force states into adoption of laws that may or may not be their idea, or good for their state or it's students. My school, which scores high and has a low failure rate and homogeneous population will never see a dime of the money Detroit and Benton Harbor will see if the state gets the grant, however we will have to live under the regressive laws which must be passed for the state to get the money those districts so sorely need. We may not even get the grant since only 14 states will win, but we will always have the laws.....I do not like to be extorted and I don't care who the President is.

[tonysam]

2. They've done it in Nevada, Arizona, and in other states.

This blackmail money is designed for states to ditch teacher protection laws. Teachers and their unions are going to rue the day RTTT ever existed.

[erinlough]

3. They already do.

My Vice President is now in Lansing trying to talk to our local reps. They just see the money and never stop to think it is a one year fix......no more next year. It has side tracked them completely from fixing the problems in the budget that Michigan lawmakers created. I am disgusted with the state of our union regarding education.

[MichiganVote]

4. It is bad in Michigan to be sure. Our poor kids will be uneducated for the next ten years.

[YvonneCa]

5. This is the case in California...

...as well. If unions don't step up...INFORM their teachers and step up ACTION...then we're in trouble.